By signing this petition, you call on BANES to scrap all arts cuts because they understand that Bath is what it is today because of its arts, sense of fun, creativity and joy. These things need money. Click now and share.

Valentine’s Day is also when BANES vote on their whole budget: library cuts included. A petition about this is here:

SIGN THE PETITION:

Join The Protests & Make Your Voices Heard

There will be protests on Weds 1 February & Weds 14 February outside the Guildhall. Please come along. Bring banners. Bring friends.

Join our Thunderclap

A thunderclap is a scheduled post that everyone signs up to. On February 14th (the date of the decision meeting) it will post the same message by 100’s of different users creating a loud noise about the campaign. This will really help to get the message across.

Please sign up to our Thunderclap using your Twitter and/or Facebook accounts and get your friends to do the same and help us create a real impact with this campaign.

Writing to/emailing MPs

It is better to write your own personal letter/email than a standard or model letter as it shows the strength of feeling you have about the campaign. Relaying personal experiences about the campaign to your elected representative will help to illustrate the key issues.
If you intend to write your own letter you may wish to:

Introduce yourself and say where you live and work

Clearly and simply explain about the campaign, your MP may be unaware of the issues involved

If you can, give examples of how you are personally affected and how your workplace is affected

Be specific about what you would like your MP to do (i.e. table or sign an Early Day Motion, contact the government/arts bodies to raise your concerns, raise the issues with the Minister, ask questions in Parliament)

Ask your MP to keep in regular contact with you and to give you copies of any responses they receive from other MPs or the Secretary of State.

Here is what Ruth Kapadia from the Arts Council had to say on the arts cuts (please note this is not an official Arts Council response – just an answer to our request for more information):

“Many local authorities have cut their funding to the arts in the last few years, and Arts Council acknowledges how hard it is to get match funding from them for grant applications. We continue to receive, and make awards to, all areas of the south west.

This shouldn’t have any effect on artists and arts organisations applying to Grants for the arts and other strategic funds. We have, however, made it clear that we are unable to replace the funding that is cut by local authorities as we simply do not have the resources.

Gfta applications still require at least 10% in match funding, and this can come from a variety of sources, including income, sponsorship, grants from trusts and foundations, and in-kind support. I hope this reassures you.

With all good wishes.”

Ruth Kapadia
Relationship Manager, Diversity

Bristol Arts Cuts

Bristol are also facing arts cuts and their Facebook group can be found here: